Top order failure cost us: Sangakkara

SL skipper Kumar Sangakkara expressed disappointment regarding Sri Lanka's poor show against India in the match yesterday. The result leaves them at the bottom of table at the halfway stage. The top order failed to cope with the new ball spell of Praveen Kumar and Ashish Nehra and found themselves reeling at 44 for 4 at the start.

Sangakkara was critical of the batting, terming it 'not professional' and urged his batsmen to bat longer. "I think none of us spent enough time at the wicket. The way we batted was not up to the mark at this level of cricket. We need to make sure we don't do that again."

Praveen Kumar, who started the match with a beauty to get rid of Upul Tharanga, and Ashish Nehra got the new ball to seam about early, made it hard for the batsmen. "Praveen Kumar bowled very well. He really made it difficult for the batsmen and we could not settle down. If we had applied ourselves for the first 15-20 overs, then we could have been in an advantageous position."

SL staged a mini recovery courtesy of a 38 run partnership for the fifth wicket between Tillakaratne Dilshan and Angelo Mathews. Dilshan, though, top-edged a slog-sweep to hole out just before a passing shower stopped play. "The wicket of Dilshan was crucial just before the rain arrived. After the rain break, we needed the partnership to continue so that we could reach a score of 230-240 on this track. Under lights here in Dambulla, we could have defended such a score."

Suraj Randiv and Nuwan Kulasekara helped haul Sri Lanka to 170 following the top order collapse. The bowlers then reduced India to 32 for 3. However, Sangakkara admitted that they did not put enough balls in the right place, but stated that Dilhara Fernando and Angelo Mathews bowled exceptionally well.